Ticagrelor for the prevention of ischemic events in patients with prior myocardial infarction and peripheral artery disease.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the main cause of death in the world. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common form of CVD presentation, but the prevalence of peripheral artery disease (PAD) is increasing. Patients with polyvascular disease comprise a very high-risk population that has been infrequently studied. Areas covered: The authors review the current evidence of the efficacy and safety of ticagrelor in the setting of acute coronary syndrome and stable patients post-MI with and without PAD and summarize its pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and regulatory issues. Expert opinion: Randomized studies showed that ticagrelor is superior to clopidogrel in patients with acute coronary syndromes, and is superior to placebo in the chronic phase (>1 year) post-myocardial infarction. Sub-analyses of these studies suggest that patients with myocardial infarction and PAD, compared to patients without these characteristics, may have greater benefit with ticagrelor. Nonetheless, the global evidence about the role of ticagrelor in patients with myocardial infarction and PAD remains relatively sparse, and a prospective randomized trial testing this hypothesis would be necessary to provide more definite data regarding the efficacy and safety of ticagrelor in this very high-risk population.